Never write him off: how Max Verstappen overcame ‘undriveable monster’ to win fourth world title

Max Verstappen consistently expressed his desire to clinch the Formula One world championship this season with a powerful car, similar to what he achieved in the last two years. While he may have preferred an easier path, the challenge of winning his fourth title in Las Vegas proved to be not only a more thrilling competition but also highlighted how much he has developed as a driver.

Having to defeat him in the future will be a daunting challenge, as his competitor Lando Norris pointed out.

In the beginning of the season, Verstappen seemed to be on top of his game once more. The Red Bull was off to a fast start, and he was dominating the competition on the track. During the first race in Bahrain, his confidence and speed were impressive, often leaving a gap of eight-tenths to a second per lap—an incredible margin. At one point, he casually asked his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, if he needed to push harder.

He appeared unaffected by the turmoil that had erupted at the beginning of the season, when his team leader, Christian Horner, faced allegations of misconduct from a female staff member. Although an independent investigation later cleared him of the claims, the situation still caused some disruption.

Bahrain was a sign of things to come, with the team securing victories in four out of the initial five races, the only setback being a Did Not Finish (DNF) due to brake issues in Australia. However, the momentum started to shift during the sixth race in Miami when McLaren introduced significant upgrades. These enhancements transformed their car, enabling them to compete effectively against Red Bull. It was also during this race that Verstappen began to notice what he believed were problems with his performance, specifically a troubling lack of grip. To add to the drama, the renowned designer Adrian Newey announced that he would be leaving Red Bull after almost 20 years. Meanwhile, Norris celebrated his first win and sparked his comeback.

Verstappen proved he shouldn't be underestimated by putting in a series of determined performances, securing victories in three out of the next four races, the final one being in Spain in June. However, things took a turn for the worse after that.

As McLaren has become significantly faster, Red Bull has been on the lookout for any small improvements. However, the changes they introduced turned out to have negative effects. The upgrades that started in Miami resulted in an unbalanced car, and trying to adjust the setup to fix this ended up putting more strain on the tires, leading to increased wear and grip problems. Verstappen's preferred oversteer was no longer present, making his driving even more challenging.

What happened next highlighted Verstappen's tenacity. He consistently delivered solid performances, even without securing a win for an entire five months, which kept Norris from closing the gap too rapidly. At times, his driving was controversial, assertive, and overly aggressive, which ultimately undermined the reigning champion.

Importantly, all of this took place in a car that Verstappen had labeled as an “impossible beast to handle” after finishing sixth in Monza, where the Red Bull was clearly slower than both McLaren and Ferrari.

He benefited somewhat from McLaren's decision to delay focusing on Norris's championship challenge, as well as from a few mistakes made by the British driver that ended up being detrimental to his efforts to close the gap. However, at its core, it was Verstappen's exceptional driving of a difficult car that truly made the difference.

His fellow driver, Sergio Pérez, faced difficulties at times just to earn points with the same car, describing its handling as being "like a boat."

It was a time when he pushed through purely by sheer determination. "I hold myself to high standards," he remarked. "I can’t stand making errors. I put that kind of pressure on myself every weekend. If you aim to win a championship, you can't have any slip-ups.”

After struggling for 10 races without a win, Verstappen delivered a stunning performance in Brazil that almost secured his championship. Coming from 17th on the starting grid to take victory in the rain was truly impressive. Although Norris had the advantage of starting in pole position, expectations shifted in his direction. However, Verstappen excelled in the difficult conditions that caused several drivers to crash and left Norris finishing in sixth place. Verstappen's skill and speed in the wet allowed him to swiftly navigate through the pack, ultimately finishing with a commanding 20-second lead.

Norris described the event as a crucial point in the championship, highlighting how it also showcased the extraordinary performance level of Verstappen this season. He mentioned, "To have a chance against Max, you need to be nearly flawless." He went on to say that Verstappen is among the greatest drivers the sport has ever known. Given his current performance in pursuit of the title, this evaluation was certainly justified.